With Netflix leading the online streaming video pack with original programming like the wildly successful House of Cards, not to mention their expansive catalog of movies and television shows, one would not be blamed for wondering if Amazon Prime Instant Video would ever be able to hold its own.
Now Amazon Prime has stepped into the ring like nothing heretofore. They announced that they have inked a deal with HBO to carry that giant’s programming.
Amazon.com, Inc. announced a content licensing agreement with HBO, making Prime Instant Video the exclusive online-only subscription home for select HBO programming.
The service kicks in on May 21 of this year. Feel free to get excited, but wait til you hear the addendum, exclusions, and specifications before you schedule a Game of Thrones binge.
Some shows included in the deal:
The Sopranos
Six Feet Under
The Wire
Big Love
Deadwood
Eastbound & Down
Family Tree
Enlightened
Treme
Boardwalk Empire
True Blood
Band of Brothers
John Adams
Previous seasons of other HBO shows, such as Girls, The Newsroom and Veep will become available over the course of the multi-year agreement, three years after airing on HBO.
The Amazon-HBO deal means maybe I'll finally watch The Wire. Maybe…
— Mike Stashwick (@mstashwick) April 24, 2014
The HBO deal is a real feather in the cap for Amazon, announcing that it is here to play ball.
“Amazon has built a wonderful service—we are excited to have our programming made available to their vast customer base and believe the exposure will create new HBO subscribers,” said Charles Schreger, President of Programming Sales for HBO.
Seriously, The Wire, one of the greatest TV dramas of all time, will soon be available on Amazon Prime. Which means? I can watch it again.
— Storme Wood (@storme) April 24, 2014
Prime Instant Video already has the exclusive rights for PBS series Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge, as well as Under the Dome, Extant, 24, Veronica Mars, Orphan Black, The Americans, Justified, Falling Skies, Grimm, Workaholics, Suits and Covert Affairs.
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